Director Heo Jin-ho's film 'Assassins' is maintaining its position at the top of the box office despite controversy over historical distortion.
According to the integrated ticket sales network, 'Assassins' attracted approximately 590,000 viewers during the National Foundation Day holiday. The film, which centers on the 1974 assassination attempt on First Lady Yuk Young-soo, raises new interpretations and questions about the events surrounding that time. This has sparked a heated debate in the political arena regarding the film's content and expression.
On October 5, Jang Dong-hyuk, leader of the People Power Party, visited Yuk's birthplace in Okcheon County, Chungbuk, and criticized 'Assassins' as an attempt to deny the legitimacy of South Korea's founding and industrialization. He emphasized, 'Artistic imagination must pause in the face of historical facts.'
In contrast, Kim Min-seok, leader of the Democratic Party, stated on social media on the same day, 'Should politics blame actors as well?' He asserted that criticism of the film should be left to critics and audiences, adding, 'Film belongs to filmmakers, evaluations belong to audiences, and politics should focus on people's livelihoods.'
Meanwhile, on October 4, members of conservative groups protested outside actor Yoo Hae-jin's home, demanding an apology. Online, posts emerged encouraging boycotts of products from a fast-food brand that Yoo endorses and withdrawing from its app.
Despite the ongoing controversies, including calls from politicians for the film to be pulled from theaters and protests surrounding its lead actor, audience interest in 'Assassins' continues to grow. The film has maintained its box office lead, recording over 2.41 million viewers during the holiday period.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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